Has anyone here enabled TPMS on their older A3 8P?

Nessy

Nessy

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As per the thread title, I’m trying to get the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to work on my 2007 model A3 using my VCDS cable.
I’m not installing a reset button on the dash (too much hassle) and instead want to reset it using VCDS.
I have enabled the system in the ABS module and the TPMS light comes up on the dash and goes out as soon as the car is started , so far , so good.
What I cannot do so far though is actually reset the system using VCDS ; I have a drop-down box saying to reset the TPMS system but when I go to section 042 to reset the values the ‘Go!’ button is just greyed out?
Is it just a case of allowing the car to do enough miles to remember the initial values before it will allow them to be reset?
I’ve read around and apparently it takes quite a bit of driving for the car to ‘learn’ what the rotational speeds etc are and as I’ve only driven around 10 miles since enabling the TPMS am just wondering if I can’t reset the values as there currently aren’t any values memorised to be reset???
Or is there another coding step that I’ve missed?
All the guides say that once the ABS module is programmed it should work?
Thanks!
 
When I had my S3 (10 plate) I enabled it.
Took a good few miles if I remember to calibrate itself.
Although on the S3 it could be reset via the DIS.
 
T-800 said:
When I had my S3 (10 plate) I enabled it.
Took a good few miles if I remember to calibrate itself.
Although on the S3 it could be reset via the DIS.
Click to expand...

Cheers for that.
Yes, after having read loads on here etc I know that on the later (white DIS) models you need to activate the TPMS in instruments and the central convenience module also , but on ancient models like my 2007 just enabling it in the ABS module should make it work , though it will always need VCDS to be reset......
Whilst time will tell whether I haven’t driven for long enough for the system to acquire enough values am just concerned that currently I get the greyed-out box when trying to reset.......it’s a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right!
The TPMS light comes on and goes out with each ignition cycle though so perhaps I should just drive it for while and worry less, LOL.....
 
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@Nessy - this is the post I followed: https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threa...-issues-vcds-users-please-check.157079/page-3

When I did my 09 A3, although we set up the ABS I needed to run the wire to the button for the values to hold. It was about 70mile before the settings took.

With my 61 S3, it’s was only coding required and all managed through DIS.

With both vehicles, I didn’t get the TPMS warning at start up - only when the pressure changed

Drop the pressure in one wheel and go for a drive to the petrol station - see if the warning flags up.
 
I think it needs more work for the pre-facelift cars (and even some of the early facelift ones).
 
Sorry to jump I here, but I’ve been following this thread, I have just followed all the information etc.. and think I have programmed my 2010 A3 correctly , I have no error messages, but people are talking about the tpms warning light on the dash, is this the tyre symbol with the ! ? As not sure if this came on before tampering lol


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samuelh_888 said:
@Nessy - this is the post I followed: https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threa...-issues-vcds-users-please-check.157079/page-3

When I did my 09 A3, although we set up the ABS I needed to run the wire to the button for the values to hold. It was about 70mile before the settings took.

With my 61 S3, it’s was only coding required and all managed through DIS.

With both vehicles, I didn’t get the TPMS warning at start up - only when the pressure changed

Drop the pressure in one wheel and go for a drive to the petrol station - see if the warning flags up.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
When I disable TPMS the tyre logo does not come on at all, with it enabled the logo will light up at the same time as the other lights when the ignition is switched on and goes out after about 2 seconds (in unison with the ABS light) .
If I do indeed need to run a wire to the ABS control module to get the values to hold I think I’ll just disable it,lol.

nluk100 said:
I think it needs more work for the pre-facelift cars (and even some of the early facelift ones).
Click to expand...

Do you know any more , lol?


Abi said:
Sorry to jump I here, but I’ve been following this thread, I have just followed all the information etc.. and think I have programmed my 2010 A3 correctly , I have no error messages, but people are talking about the tpms warning light on the dash, is this the tyre symbol with the ! ? As not sure if this came on before tampering lol


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Click to expand...

That’s the one, yes.


I’ve just tried resetting it with VCDS and even though I’ve done about 20 miles of motorway driving and about 60 miles in total it’s still not allowing me to re-set the pressures.
When I click on the drop down box to reset pressures I still get the greyed-out Go! box.....
55D8914B 0806 4326 996D 36B002F29DF8
 
Thank you for confirming the dash symbol, I have the tyre pressure option in the ‘dis’ but obviously can’t set the tyre pressure.
So how does this work now??


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Nessy said:
Thanks!
When I disable TPMS the tyre logo does not come on at all, with it enabled the logo will light up at the same time as the other lights when the ignition is switched on and goes out after about 2 seconds (in unison with the ABS light) .
If I do indeed need to run a wire to the ABS control module to get the values to hold I think I’ll just disable it,lol.



Do you know any more , lol?




That’s the one, yes.


I’ve just tried resetting it with VCDS and even though I’ve done about 20 miles of motorway driving and about 60 miles in total it’s still not allowing me to re-set the pressures.
When I click on the drop down box to reset pressures I still get the greyed-out Go! box.....
View attachment 192564
Click to expand...

Where are you looking in VCDS to do this?


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Abi said:
Where are you looking in VCDS to do this?


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Click to expand...

To reset the pressures by VCDS go to ABS brakes measuring blocks , enter 042 and it should allow you reset everything by clicking Go!
I just get a greyed-out Go! meaning I can’t reset it....
 
Nessy said:
To reset the pressures by VCDS go to ABS brakes measuring blocks , enter 042 and it should allow you reset everything by clicking Go!
I just get a greyed-out Go! meaning I can’t reset it....
Click to expand...

I will look at mine tomorrow lunchtime and will post results


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I did it on my 2011 s3, from putting bits together from here, I have posted what I did somewhere.

sadly doesn’t work on the RS3 version, despite being newer, they changed the access to the abs coding, and only Audi online server SVM can code it.
 
Thanks I’ve read all the above threads and still none the wiser.
As far as I know, I shouldn’t have to touch (with VCDS) the central convenience module or instrument cluster as I’m not trying to activate the reset via the DIS as my car is too old (it has the red DIS system).
This is why I’m stumped as to what the problem can be?
The TPMS light coming on for a few seconds and then going out does seem to be the correct behaviour for the system when it is properly enabled, at least according to all the threads I’ve read ......
 
Nessy said:
Thanks I’ve read all the above threads and still none the wiser.
As far as I know, I shouldn’t have to touch (with VCDS) the central convenience module or instrument cluster as I’m not trying to activate the reset via the DIS as my car is too old (it has the red DIS system).
This is why I’m stumped as to what the problem can be?
The TPMS light coming on for a few seconds and then going out does seem to be the correct behaviour for the system when it is properly enabled, at least according to all the threads I’ve read ......
Click to expand...
]


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Last edited:
Nessy said:
To reset the pressures by VCDS go to ABS brakes measuring blocks , enter 042 and it should allow you reset everything by clicking Go!
I just get a greyed-out Go! meaning I can’t reset it....
Click to expand...


Hi, are you sure you have coded it correctly, I know your vehicle is slightly older than mine but I plugged mine in earlier and went to ABS 042 in Basic settings and not measuring blocks as you said and things look different! Once I used the drop down box to reset tpms the box above ‘reset status’ went to ‘running’ and after a second or two went back to ‘done’, I assume it has been reset. Your boxes say N/A?
1149c8430502dca9ee14dd62e44aefb1.jpg
23212f05016cc96108ab27b235defc0d.jpg


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Does anyone have the part no. For the genuine reset button and how it’s wired in?


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Abi said:
Hi, are you sure you have coded it correctly, I know your vehicle is slightly older than mine but I plugged mine in earlier and went to ABS 042 in Basic settings and not measuring blocks as you said and things look different! Once I used the drop down box to reset tpms the box above ‘reset status’ went to ‘running’ and after a second or two went back to ‘done’, I assume it has been reset. Your boxes say N/A.

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Click to expand...

Abi said:



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Click to expand...


That’s brilliant , thanks for posting all that!
I have to admit, I didn’t have long coding helper and had to code the TPMS by a bit of arithmetic , subtracting 16384 from the factory coding to enable it.
This figure came up within a box on the screen.
I do believe that it was successfully enabled , going by the dash display, but that there is still another step that I don’t know about?
I also never get that eeprom reset step that you get at all.
It may well be the case that my car is so old (built Nov 2006) it’s on the cusp of it working ie ABS controller compatible but the rest isn’t!
I believe that to fit the reset button you need to install it and then (apart from a ground wire and a 12v supply which most people take from the nearby ESP button) take a wire through the front bulkhead to a pin inside the ABS controller module, it’s this last step that terrifies me!
Seeing as your car has the white DIS though I believe you should be able to reset it via the DIS once you have enabled it via VCDS in the instrument cluster and the central convenience module ?
I don’t know what year your car is but there seems to be a bit of uncertainty over the 2009-2010 models as some report not being able to enable resetting via the DIS?
Since I am unable to reset the system , I have disabled the TPMS and will leave it at that unless someone can tell me what I’ve missed?
Thanks again.
 
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Nessy said:
That’s brilliant , thanks for posting all that!
I have to admit, I didn’t have long coding helper and had to code the TPMS by a bit of arithmetic , subtracting 16384 from the factory coding to enable it.
This figure came up within a box on the screen.
I do believe that it was successfully enabled , going by the dash display, but that there is still another step that I don’t know about?
I also never get that eeprom reset step that you get at all.
It may well be the case that my car is so old (built Nov 2006) it’s on the cusp of it working ie ABS controller compatible but the rest isn’t!
I believe that to fit the reset button you need to install it and then (apart from a ground wire and a 12v supply which most people take from the nearby ESP button) take a wire through the front bulkhead to a pin inside the ABS controller module, it’s this last step that terrifies me!
Seeing as your car has the white DIS though I believe you should be able to reset it via the DIS once you have enabled it via VCDS in the instrument cluster and the central convenience module ?
I don’t know what year your car is but there seems to be a bit of uncertainty over the 2009-2010 models as some report not being able to enable resetting via the DIS?
Since I am unable to reset the system , I have disabled the TPMS and will leave it at that unless someone can tell me what I’ve missed?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Mine is a 2010/11 model! I hope you may well get some advise on this issue but to be honest I hear the indirect tpms ‘Which we have’ isn’t the best anyway as not detecting a loss of pressure until you have a flat tyre and the wheel circumference drops to an amount to detect a problem, by this time I think anyone would know they had a flat! unlike the direct tpms which monitors actual tyre pressure and alert the driver when approximately 25% of air pressure is lost in any particular tyre occurs. I’m off on a 200 mile round trip this weekend to Norfolk and back and will plug it in again once back but think the results will be the same. Good look in your research


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Abi said:
Mine is a 2010/11 model! I hope you may well get some advise on this issue but to be honest I hear the indirect tpms ‘Which we have’ isn’t the best anyway as not detecting a loss of pressure until you have a flat tyre and the wheel circumference drops to an amount to detect a problem, by this time I think anyone would know they had a flat! unlike the direct tpms which monitors actual tyre pressure and alert the driver when approximately 25% of air pressure is lost in any particular tyre occurs. I’m off on a 200 mile round trip this weekend to Norfolk and back and will plug it in again once back but think the results will be the same. Good look in your research




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Click to expand...

Thanks!
Yes I agree it isn’t the best system, my mums 2018 A1 has the same indirect system and driving it home from the dealer the TPMS warning came on!
Pulled over and checked the tyre pressures (I always carry a pressure gauge , lol) and they were all spot-on!
Had to consult the manual to reset the system and it hasn’t done it since!
If I could have enabled it on my A3 for free that would have been great , with 225/40 x 18 tyres on my A3 they look flat even when inflated ,lol.
Time will tell if anyone else posts what I can do to make it work!
 
Nessy said:
Thanks!
Yes I agree it isn’t the best system, my mums 2018 A1 has the same indirect system and driving it home from the dealer the TPMS warning came on!
Pulled over and checked the tyre pressures (I always carry a pressure gauge , lol) and they were all spot-on!
Had to consult the manual to reset the system and it hasn’t done it since!
If I could have enabled it on my A3 for free that would have been great , with 225/40 x 18 tyres on my A3 they look flat even when inflated ,lol.
Time will tell if anyone else posts what I can do to make it work!
Click to expand...

Tbh if your on such low profile tyres you would probably be on your rims anyway before you get a warning light which you would already know about lol


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Good luck on your research and happy to help


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Last edited:
Nessy said:
Thanks!
Yes I agree it isn’t the best system, my mums 2018 A1 has the same indirect system and driving it home from the dealer the TPMS warning came on!
Pulled over and checked the tyre pressures (I always carry a pressure gauge , lol) and they were all spot-on!
Had to consult the manual to reset the system and it hasn’t done it since!
If I could have enabled it on my A3 for free that would have been great , with 225/40 x 18 tyres on my A3 they look flat even when inflated ,lol.
Time will tell if anyone else posts what I can do to make it work!
Click to expand...

Have you followed this guide? Don’t do the can gateway part, that’s for tyre pressure monitoring, ‘which we don’t have’ this is what I followed to activate mine.

https://www.audi.homeradiatorsreview.com/tpms.html


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Abi said:
Have you followed this guide? Don’t do the can gateway part, that’s for tyre pressure monitoring, ‘which we don’t have’ this is what I followed to activate mine.



https://www.audi.homeradiatorsreview.com/tpms.html


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Click to expand...

Thanks again!
I hadn’t come across that guide!

The first paragraph says that if you don’t have (white) DIS or MMI then you need to fit a physical button to be able to reset the system.
Even though I’m quite proficient at car electrics ( I fitted cruise control to my pre-facelift B5 A4 when all the guides/kits cater for the later facelift models) I draw the line at fiddling with ABS module wiring!
If I can get TPMS to work then great , but I won’t lose any sleep over it if I can’t!
 
Nessy said:
I think that question would have been better posted in a new thread, rather than here.
Click to expand...
Sorry I am new, didnt want to open new thread since I thought it was related to this one, my mistake
 
Nessy said:
Thanks again!
I hadn’t come across that guide!

The first paragraph says that if you don’t have (white) DIS or MMI then you need to fit a physical button to be able to reset the system.
Even though I’m quite proficient at car electrics ( I fitted cruise control to my pre-facelift B5 A4 when all the guides/kits cater for the later facelift models) I draw the line at fiddling with ABS module wiring!
If I can get TPMS to work then great , but I won’t lose any sleep over it if I can’t!
Click to expand...

Apologies to revive this old thread but did you ever get this to work?

I have 57 plate A3 preface lift - red DIS - is it possible to get this to work with just VCDS?

Cheers!
 
MA3TDIQ said:
Apologies to revive this old thread but did you ever get this to work?

I have 57 plate A3 preface lift - red DIS - is it possible to get this to work with just VCDS?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

No. You’ll need the dash button, run a wire from your ABS unit and VCDS but you need to check you have the right ABS first.
 
Is there a guide on where and how to run this wire from the ABS unit? is it similar to the CH/LH trick? I ran a wire to ground it essentially and don't actually need a button. Then VCDS to code it.
 
MA3TDIQ said:
Apologies to revive this old thread but did you ever get this to work?

I have 57 plate A3 preface lift - red DIS - is it possible to get this to work with just VCDS?

Cheers!
Click to expand...

No, I just deactivated it after a while!
Would still be interested in it if instructions as to how to wire it in turned up.....
 
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